Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Hungary
Lithuania
Nigeria
South Korea
United Arab Emirates

Richard Keys claims Jose Mourinho told him about rows with "virus" Paul Pogba

mirror.co.uk, 18 June 2022, 10:24
Paul Pogba has this week released a five-part documentary about his life away from the pitch, with his trials and tribulations at Manchester United understandably taking centre stage

Richard Keys has branded Paul Pogba a "virus" and claims nothing he could hear in the midfielder's documentary could change his mind.

The Frenchman is closing in on a return to Juventus, having left Manchester United on a free for the second time in his career. His departure closes the book on another Pogba chapter that failed to deliver on its promise, this time after being signed for £89million back in 2016.

Jose Mourinho was the man in the Old Trafford dugout at the time of his record-breaking transfer and together they won three trophies during the 2016/17 season. But the relationship quickly soured, culminating in a training ground bust-up which made headlines around the football world.

Pogba discussed his strained working situation whilst playing under the Special One, pointing to an argument surrounding an injury as the genesis of it all. The 29-year-old stated that while rehabbing from an injury in Miami, Mourinho forwarded a picture of the player to his agent Mino Raiola.

"It all started when I got injured," he explained in the five-part Amazon series. "I decided to go to Miami for rehab and left. In Miami a paparazzo photographed me with my wife Zulay.

"Mourinho sent the photo to Raiola. I didn't like it at all... at all. I said to Mou, 'are you serious? I am injured, but I come here to train three times a day. Who do you think I am? I'm not like other players'."

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Man Utd have offered Pogba a new contract? Let us know in the comments

Mourinho publicly called out the midfielder on several occasions including in the immediate aftermath of France's World Cup triumph in 2018: He said: "I think the World Cup is the perfect habitat for a player like him to give the best. Why? Because he's closed for a month where he can only think about football. During a season you can have a big match, then a small match, then one even smaller, then you can lose your focus."

Keys, who has worked alongside the former United and Chelsea boss during punditry stints, said he has been made fully aware of their combustible relationship and was in no doubt over which side of the fence he found himself on.

"I doubt there's anything in the Pogmentary that will persuade me that Pogba isn't a virus & United are well rid of him," the former Sky Sports anchor posted on Twitter. "£300,000/week - nothing? Didn't feel loved? Please. Mourinho told me about his rows & there's only one side to take."

Despite the apparent animosity between the pair, Pogba said he holds no grudge and is instead focused on making United regret the decision to not give him a new contract.

"My thought process is to show Manchester (United) that they made a mistake in waiting to give me a contract," Pogba added. "And to show other clubs that Manchester had made a mistake in not offering me a contract.

"How can you tell a player you absolutely want him and offer him nothing? Never seen that."

Show more

Top News

21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson is reportedly set to hold 'crunch talks' with the Reds hierarchy over his future at the end of the season. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Follow all the action as Thomas Tuchel takes charge of his first game as England manager against Albania, live on talkSPORT. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Chelsea's first opponents at this summer's Club World Cup have been expelled from the competition, FIFA has announced. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly learned how long Riccardo Calafiori will be out for with a knee injury following the defender's withdrawal from the Italy squad. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has been told that Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma has the quality to play for Manchester United. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have confirmed that Alisson Becker has pulled out of the Brazil squad after the goalkeeper suffered a worrying injury scare against Colombia. 21 March 2025 talksport.com There were huge smiles at Wembley commentary with Stuart Pearce returning to action after his heart scare. 21 March 2025 talksport.com A brand new football competition begins next week as some of the sport's legends combine with famous faces for six-a-side action. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk England head coach Thomas Tuchel made the right decision not to call up Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri, but the 18-year-old is still a safe bet for the 2026 World Cup squad, expert Charles Watts believes. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he and Georgina Rodriguez are not currently married despite huge speculation. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly come forward with a 'super offer' to sign Sporting Lisbon hotshot Viktor Gyokeres in the summer transfer window. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Premier League giants Manchester City will reportedly attempt to sign Swedish starlet Roony Bardghji from Copenhagen. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Lee Carsley is back in his role as England Under-21 head coach and his strong Young Lions squad take on France tonight. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Slovenia will welcome Slovakia for the second leg of their UEFA Nations League playoff tie on Sunday evening, with the contest delicately poised following a goalless draw in the first leg on Thursday night. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Reading face the prospect being thrown out of the Football League unless the club is sold imminently. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Walsall boss Mat Sadler claimed the decision not to request a postponement this weekend was 'out of' the club's hands. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea attacker Joao Felix - currently on loan at AC Milan - could apparently still be offered an escape route out of Stamford Bridge by Aston Villa this summer. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hoping to extend their quest for a first UEFA Nations League crown, Italy will try to overturn a one-goal deficit in the second leg of their quarter-final tie against Germany. 21 March 2025 talksport.com England manager Thomas Tuchel is set to take charge of his first game tonight, but he won't be singing the national anthem. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are on the verge of agreeing a new five-year contract with teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri, according to a report. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town have reportedly identified Kalidou Sidibe as a replacement for Kalvin Phillips, who could leave the club in the summer should they be relegated. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ultimately seeking a first UEFA Nations League title this summer, Germany will conclude their quarter-final clash with Italy on Sunday evening, leading by one goal from the first leg. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez is set to name an unchanged side for the second leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Denmark on Sunday night. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Portugal will attempt to recover from a one-goal deficit when they welcome Denmark to Lisbon for the second leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final on Sunday night. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk On top in a tussle between two football titans, Germany will aim to seal progress into the UEFA Nations League semi-finals by finishing the job against Italy on Sunday evening. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman will be forced into a defensive reshuffle for Sunday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final second leg against Spain, with Jorrel Hato out of the match through suspension. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen is expected to make his full debut for Spain in Sunday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final second leg against Netherlands. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk France head coach Didier Deschamps will likely axe Ibrahima Konate from his starting XI for Sunday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final second leg against Croatia at the Stade de France. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With one half of the 2018 World Cup final revenge mission complete, Croatia seek to finish the job against France in the second leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final on Sunday evening at the Stade de France. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Spain and Netherlands will lock horns for the second leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final on Sunday evening, with the tie delicately poised following a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture in Rotterdam.